The Barnyard Cassanovas provided lively music from Johnny Cash to rock 'n' roll at the grand opening of La Mesa Wine Works on August 27th. Winemaker Linda McWilliams, sporting a T-shirt reading "Well behaved women rarely make history" and her husband,Mike, chatted with guests about wines offered up from San Pasqual Winery and Wyatt Oaks Winery, both local ventures.

August 17, 2016 (Spring Valley) -Thanks to Kreg Kearly for sending in these dramatic images of the Pointe Fire in Spring Valley taken by his son, Kerouac Geoffroy-Kearley. The brush fire threatened homes and forced evacuations in Spring Valley on Wednesday.

August 3, 2016 (Lakeside) -- I caught this image of an egret at Lake Jennings, its vertical plumes striking a counterpoint against horizontal lines formed by rippling waters on the lake's glassy surface.

July 6,2016 (Mt.Helix) -- For the past several years, a pair of Cooper's hawks have been nesting in our ficus tree. This weekend,we were treated to the sight of both parents and two fledgling hawks taking wing, then alighting in a cedar tree on our property.

June 27, 2016 (Potrero/Campo) - The Border Fire started Sunday, June 19. Since then, it has burned more than 7,000 acres, destroyed five homes and 11 structures. These images, taken on June 23 in the Potrero and Campo communities, show the aftermath and the efforts taking place to help residents get back to their lives.

June 9, 2016 (Lakeside) -- Leon Thompson sent in these photos showing a patriotic-minded voter's arrival at a polling place in Lakeside via horse and buggy--a most unusual mode of transportation in our modern era.

He also snapped a picture showing a creative way to display the"I voted" sticker after casting ballots in this equestrian-friendly community.

June 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- In a campaign stop in San Diego yesterday, former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took time out to ask San Diego Democratic Party Chair Francine Busby for a hug, Busby posted on Facebook.

May 31, 2016 (Lakeside) – Leon Thompson sent in this dramatic image showing a canopy of clouds swooping across Lake San Vicente in Lakeside, an area he calls “Coyote Highway” due to the wildlife frequenting the natural habitat in this beautiful, windswept area.

April 26, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Thanks to Eric Kallen of http://jacumbabirding.com/for sending in these gorgeous photos of some colorful birds spotted during springtime in East County. Below are his notes:

April 25, 2016 (Lakeside) – Yeehaw! Lakeside’s Rodeo and Western Days Parade took place this past weekend and photographer Randy Jordan of R. Jordan Photography was there to catch the action, including barrel racing and calf-roping at “Slack Thursday” in the Bulls Only lead-up event to the Lakeside Rodeo. He also watched the annual parade roll out down Maine Avenue through the heart of downtown Lakeside.

March 17, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) --Birds of a feather flock together…and sometimes, different species hang out together, too. Eric Kallen sent in these photos of brilliantly plumed birds resplendent in yellow and gold hues, including three varieties of Orioles ( Bullock’s, Hooded and Scott’s) as well as a Nashville warbler. All were recent visitors in Jacumba Hot Springs.

March 4, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Thanks to Eric Kallen for sending more photos of birds showing up in March in the high desert town of Jacumba Hot Springs—including both migratory and year-round residents. Below are his notes on this desert denizens:

February 19, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Eric Kallen, who runs the website http://www.jacumbabirding.com, has sent us more beautiful bird photos from Jacumba Hot Springs, including a Hooded Oriole, Lark Bunting, and a Merlin. Here are his notes on this enticing visitors to our region—including tips on how to attract the yellow-plumed orioles to your backyard.

January 29, 2016 (Jacumba) — Eric Kallen, who runs the websitewww.JacumbaBirding.comhas counted over 191 species of birds in Jacumba Hot Springs, a high-desert community in San Diego’s East County. “I’ve had 124 species in my backyard,” he says.

Now is a great time to go bird-watching there, since you can see wintering and year-round species as well as some early spring migratory visitors. Here are photos taken this January of a Scott’s Oriole, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Costa’s Hummingbird, with notes from Kallen on each:

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.” – Irish blessing

January 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—Those winter rains have left our drought-parched hills wearing a lovely coat of green. In fact, some areas in San Diego’s backcountry now bear a striking resemblance to Ireland! Can you tell which photo was taken in East County yesterday, and which was shot in the Irish countryside? (Click “read more” for the answer.)

January 22, 2016 (Lakeside) --On January 21, 2016, I drove to Lake Jennings to look for the bald eagle I had been watching for the last couple days. On the 20th, I saw the young bald eagle with a fish and an osprey chasing it trying to take away its meal.

January 7, 2016 (Jamul) –Jodie LaRosh came upon this surreal scene this morning at 7 a.m. at State Route 94. At a dip in the road near Jamul Estates, rainfall had created a river flooding the road.

At 8:02 a.m., CHP asked for Caltrans to shut down the roadway. A t 8:27 CHP observed that “water is getting pretty deep” and again asked for a shutdown at Honey Springs and 94. But at 8:41 a.m., inexplicably, CHP posted, “SR 94 will remain open –there is a foot of water crossing from the creek.” Signs were posted to alert motorists.

December 18, 2015 (Descanso) – Can you spot the California Tree Frog (Pseudacris cadaverina) in this photo?

It blends in quite well with the granite background in this image taken in Descanso by Duncan McFetridge.

"Mr. McFetridge’s photo of the treefrog is a very classic example of their habitat and behavior and it is great to see a photo of a local amphibian as the photo of the week," says Chris Brown with the U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, who identified the well-hidden amphibian for us.

November 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Rob Foster sent in this beautiful photo of a place located just above the bend of the San Diego River where it turns north in the shadow of, or "behind the peak" called E-quílsh-a máhk. “Where your Heart, Mind, Spirit & Soul are at Peace,” he writes, “a place we could all use in these troubled times.”

November 11, 2015 (Ramona) – Nicole Bridges, founder of Capability Ranch, sent in this photo of a rainbow arcing over the facility. Capability Ranch provides activities and events for special needs children and adults.